NHTSA Complaint #764708 — 1999 DODGE DAKOTA

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MCKINNEY DODGE IN MCKINNEY, TEXAS THAT WE HAVE AN INTAKE LEAK ON OUR MANIFOLD. WE HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH OUR MECHANIC TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I WENT TO THE WEST LOOP DODGE IN FT. WORTH AND PICKED UP THE MANIFOLD GASKET KIT FROM THE PARTS DEPARTMENT. UPON READING THE INSERT IT STATED THAT THE NEW BOLTS ARE NOW 1/2 INCH LONGER AND THAT THE GASKET ITSELF IS NOW THICKER AS WELL. ALSO WITH SPEAKING WITH OUR MECHANIC, HE INFORMED US THAT WE ARE THE SECOND TRUCK IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE WAS EVEN ABLE TO TELL US EXACTLY WHERE OUR LEAK WAS BEFORE INSPECTING IT. THIS SEEMS TO ME THAT DODGE HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND INSTEAD OF RECALLING THEIR DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT, THEY MADE CHANGES TO THE GASKETS AND BOLT SIZES AND ARE NOW CHARGING OVER $600 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT AND DODGE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE BILL AND NOT THE CONSUMER THAT HAS PURCHASED THEIR PRODUCT.*JB